Aqua-gym device

ABSTRACT

An aqua-gym device includes a supporting frame, a training connector, and an elastic element. The elastic element has a first elastic portion having one end movably connected to the supporting frame, and another end movably connected to the training connector such that the first elastic element is arranged to exert an upward force to the user for substantially assisting the user to float in the water. The elastic element further has a second elastic portion having one end movably connected to the supporting frame, and another end movably connected to the training connector such that the second elastic element is arranged to exert a backward pulling force to the user, so that when the user exercises in the water, the first and the elastic element substantially guide the user by assisting the user to float in the water and providing a guiding force to the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an aqua-gym device, and more particularly to an exercise device for guiding a user to perform exercise in water.

2. Description of Related Arts

A conventional training device, such as a swimming exerciser or a swimming harness, usually comprises a plurality of resilient members extended from a supporter to a connector worn on a user's body when he or she is swimming in a swimming pool. Typically, the supporter is a fixture positioned adjacent to the swimming pool and one end of each of the resilient members is detachably affixed to the fixture while another ends of the resilient members are affixed to the connector.

One type of swimming exerciser is that the resilient elements are affixed to the ladder of the swimming pool so that the user may swim in the swimming pool while the resilient elements are attached to his or her body and exert backward pulling force thereto. One advantage of this type of swimming exercise is that it provides great freedom to the user so that the user may swim in the swimming pool in virtually any direction. The disadvantage of this type of the swimming exerciser is that the control over the movement of the user is too loose. As a result, this type of swimming exerciser is not suitable for handicap or those who require therapy because they need substantial guiding when they swim in the pool in order to prevent deterioration of their health condition.

A second type of swimming exerciser is that the resilient elements are affixed to the ladder of the swimming pool so that the user may swim in the swimming pool while the resilient elements are attached to two sides of his or her body and exert sideward pulling force thereto. An advantage of this type of swimming exerciser is that the user is guided from sideward and there is no need to have any supporting member suspendedly extended above the water surface. The disadvantage, however, of this type of swimming exerciser is that the resilient elements of the swimming exerciser are not capable of preventing sinking of the user's body. In other words, the user of this type of swimming exerciser is not guided to float on the water surface. When the user of the swimming exerciser is physically disabled or handicapped, the situation can become very dangerous.

All of the above-mentioned conventional swimming exercisers also share another disadvantage which relates to their limited application. The swimming exercisers mentioned above are only capable of guiding a user to swim in a pool area. They do not, however, guide the user to perform other kinds of exercises in that pool area. Thus, if the user wishes to perform a certain kind of exercise in water other than swimming, he or she has to do it by himself or herself without any aid. This also presents danger to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides an aqua-gym device which is an exercise device for guiding a user to perform exercise in water. The aqua-gym of the present invention is especially suitable for the handicapped or elderly people.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an aqua-gym device which is capable of guiding a user to swim and to perform certain exercises in a water pool. In other words, the present invention not only guides the user to swim, but also assists the user to perform a wide range of exercises not relating to swimming in the pool. As such, the present invention is not limited to assist swimming.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an aqua-gym device which is capable of guiding the user in the pool from various orientations so as to provide a safety net when the user loses self-control (due to health conditions) in the water.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an aqua-gym device which comprises a water tank which can be assembled to securely store a predetermined amount of water for facilitating safe and guided exercise activities in the water tank. Moreover, the water tank has light weight for easy transportation.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide an aqua-gym device which is capable of mitigating lower back pain, sharp pain in the back of user's legs, herniated discs, numbness in legs, shooting hip or buttock pain.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by providing an aqua-gym device for assisting a user to exercise in water, comprising:

a supporting frame suspendedly supported above a water surface;

a training connector detachably attached to the user; and

an elastic element having a first elastic portion having one end movably connected to the supporting frame, and another end movably connected to the training connector such that the first elastic element is arranged to exert an upward force to the user for substantially assisting the user to float in the water, wherein the elastic element further has a second elastic portion having one end movably connected to the supporting frame, and another end movably connected to the training connector such that the second elastic element is arranged to exert a backward pulling force to the user, so that when the user exercises in the water, the first and the elastic element substantially guide the user by assisting the user to float in the water and providing a guiding force to the user.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aqua-gym device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the aqua-gym device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the aqua-gym device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are perspective views of a grip assembly of the aqua-gym device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5B are schematic diagrams on the use of the aqua-gym device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an alternative mode of the aqua-gym device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7B are schematic diagrams on the use of the aqua-gym device according to the alternative mode of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the training bar of the aqua-gym device according to the alternative mode of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, to FIG. 3, FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B, and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5B of the drawings, an aqua-gym device for assisting a user to exercise in water according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the aqua-gym device comprises a supporting frame 10, a training connector 20, and an elastic element 300 having a first elastic portion 30, and a second elastic portion 40. The supporting frame 10 is suspendedly supported above a water surface, such as a water surface formed by water contained in a swimming pool, or a water tank 50 as mentioned below. In this preferred embodiment, the water surface is formed by the water stored in the water tank 50. Moreover, the training connector 20 is detachably attached to the user exercising in the water tank 50.

On the other hand, the first elastic portion 30 has one end movably connected to the supporting frame 10, and another end movably connected to the training connector 20 such that the first elastic portion 30 is arranged to exert an upward force to the user for substantially assisting the user to float in the water.

The second elastic portion 40 has one end movably connected to the supporting frame 10, and another end movably connected to the training connector 20 such that the second elastic portion 40 is arranged to exert a backward pulling force to the user, so that when the user exercises in the water, the first and the elastic portion 30, 40 substantially guide the user by assisting the user to float in the water and providing a guiding force to the user.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the aqua-gym device further comprises a water tank 50 having an exercise cavity 51 formed therein for storing a predetermined amount of water, wherein the supporting frame 10 is supported by the water tank 50 for supporting the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40. In other words, the supporting frame 10 extends across the water tank 50 wherein the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40 movably extends between the supporting frame 10 and the training connector 20 for guiding user's movement in the exercise cavity 51.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the water tank 50 further comprises an edge frame 52 defining a peripheral edge thereof, a plurality of leg frames 53 spacedly extended from the edge frame 52 to stand on a ground surface for supporting the edge frame 52 at a predetermined elevation, and a waterproof fabric 54 mounted on the edge frame 52 to define a tank body 55 having the exercise cavity 51 and for storing a predetermined of water therein. The waterproof fabric 54 is made material having very strong material strength and is crafted and designed to withstand substantial water pressure so that when water is poured into the exercise cavity 51, the waterproof fabric 54 is arranged to substantially hold the water within the exercise cavity 51 and allow the user to perform various exercises therein. The tank body 55 thus defined has four side boundaries 551, a bottom boundary 552, and an upper opening 553 communicating the exercise cavity 51 with an exterior of the tank body 55.

The edge frame 52 comprises an elongated frame member 521 bent to form a substantially rectangular cross section. On the other hand, each of the leg frames 53 comprises an elongated leg member 531 and is bent to form a U-shaped cross section which defines a base portion 532 resting on the ground surface, and two supporting portions 533 integrally, upwardly and inclinedly extended from the base portion 532 to connect with the edge frame 52. Furthermore, the elongated frame member 521 is bent to define two opposed longitudinal edges 522 and two opposed transverse edges 523 of the edge frame 52, wherein the exercise cavity 51 is confined within the longitudinal edges 522 and the transverse edges 523.

The water tank 50 further comprises a plurality of securing strips 56 having one end portion securely affixed to the bottom boundary 552 of the tank body 55, and another end attached to the base portion 532 of the corresponding leg frame 53 for reinforcing the leg frame 53 by preventing the leg frame 53 from moving pivotally outwardly with respect to the edge frame 52 when the tank body 55 is filled with a large volume of water. Thus, each of the securing strips 56 has a predetermined material strength for maintaining the corresponding leg frame 53 in position.

The supporting frame 10 comprises a first supporting member 11 extending across the longitudinal edges 522 of the edge frame 52, and a second supporting member 12 extended from one of the transverse edges 523 of the edge frame 52 to connect with the first supporting member 11. As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, each of the first supporting member 11 and the second supporting member 12 is curved in cross sectional shape and is extended above the exercise cavity 51, wherein the first and the second resilient portion 30, 40 are extended from the supporting frame 10 which is mounted above the water surface.

The supporting frame 10 further comprises a plurality of support connectors 13 spacedly provided on the second supporting member 12 for connecting the second supporting member 12 with the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40 respectively. More specifically, each of the support connectors 13 comprises a tubular connector body 131, and a plurality of locking sleeves 132 extended from the tubular connector body 131 to detachably connect to a predetermined position on the second supporting member 12, wherein the corresponding end of the corresponding first or the second elastic portion 30, 40 is securely mounted within the tubular connector body 131, while another end of the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40 elastically extends to the training connector 20.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40 are integrally connected together at the training connector 20 for exerting upward and a backward pulling force to the user respectively. Thus, the training connector 20 comprises a main body 21 for wearing on the user's body, and a connecting loop 22 provided at the main body 21, wherein the elastic element 300 is arranged to pass through the connecting loop 22 to define the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40 as the portion for providing the upward pulling force and the backward pulling force for the user respectively.

The aqua-gym further comprises a ladder assembly 60 mounted on the edge frame 52 of the water tank 50 for allowing a user to get in or get out of the exercise cavity 51 through the ladder assembly 60. The ladder assembly 60 is preferably mounted on one of the longitudinal edges 522 of the elongated frame member 521 and comprises a plurality of handles 61 spacedly mounted on the edge frame 52 and a ladder frame 62 also mounted on the edge frame 52 at a position between the handles 61 and is extended on an outer side of the water tank 50 for allowing a user to use the ladder frame 62 as a support to get in or out of the water tank 50. Thus, the handles 61 are extended across an inner side and an outer side of the water tank 50 for facilitating user's access to and exit from the exercise cavity 51.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, and FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B of the drawings, the aqua-gym further comprises a plurality of grip assemblies 70 provided on the edge frame 52 for allowing a user to grip thereon while exercising his or her leg portion. More specifically, each of the grip assemblies 70 comprises a coupling frame 71 mounted on the edge frame 52 and extended toward the exercise cavity 51, a height adjustment frame 72 upwardly extended from the coupling frame 71, and a gripping member 73 extended from the height adjustment frame 72 toward the exercise cavity 51, wherein a user is able to grip on the gripping member 73 as a support for exercising his or her lower body portion or the legs.

The coupling frame 71 comprises a securing coupler 711 securely coupled to the edge frame 52, an elongated member 712 extended from the securing coupler 711, and a tubular body 713 provided at an inner end of the elongated member 712, wherein the height adjustment frame 72 is arranged to slidably penetrate through the tubular body 713 for adjusting a height of the griping member 73. Accordingly, the gripping member 73 is horizontally extended from the height adjustment frame 72 for allowing a user to grip thereon to perform shoulder press exercise.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5A to FIG. 5B of the drawings, the operation of the present invention is described as follows: when the exercise cavity 51 is filled with water, a user may go inside the exercise cavity 51 and immerse in the water. Afterwards, the user may wear the training connector 20 onto his waist portion and start swimming in the exercise cavity 51. While the user is swimming, the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40 of the elastic element 300 exert an upward and a backward pulling force to the user respectively. As such, the user is substantially guided to float on the water and as to the orientation of the swimming. It is worth mentioning that the positions of the support connectors 13 on the second supporting member 12 are adjustable so that in this particular mode of exercise, the support connector 13 connecting the first elastic portion 30 is arranged to be above the support connector 13 connecting the second elastic portion 40 for forming a V-shaped or L-shaped cross section of the elastic element 300.

As shown in FIG. 5A of the drawings, a user may wear the training connector 20 on his or her waist portion and perform sitting exercise in the water. In this type of exercise, the user must exert force to overcome the pulling force exerted by the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40. The support connectors 13 connecting the first elastic portion 30 should be put above the user on the second supporting member 12 while the support connector 13 connecting the second elastic portion 40 should be placed behind the user.

As shown in FIG. 5B of the drawings, a user may wear the training connector 20 on his or her leg while the user's hand is arranged to grip on the gripping members 73 of the grip assemblies 70 respectively so that the user is able to perform exercise on his or her leg. In this exercise mode, the support connectors 13 are placed at the opposite side of the gripping assemblies 70 and the first and the second elastic portion 30, 40 form an acute angle with each other.

Referring to FIG. 6. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B of the drawings, an alternative mode of the aqua-gym device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The first alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except the aqua-gym device further comprises a training bar 80 moveably extended across the first supporting member 11 for allowing the user grip thereon and to perform chin-up exercise in the water. The training bar 80 is elongated in shape and has two ends securely mounted to the curved first supporting member 30 at an elevation less than a height of the user so that the user is able to grip on the training bar 80 easily.

As shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the training bar 80 is movably mounted across the first supporting member 11 so that a user is able to adjust an elevation of the training bar 80 with respect to the ground surface. Moreover, the training bar 80 has an adjustable length for extending across the first supporting member 11 at various heights. Accordingly, the training bar 80 comprises a first and a second bar members 81, 82 movably and adjustably connected with each other for adjusting a length of the training bar 80.

Finally, it is important to mention that the aqua-gym device described above is capable of mitigating lower back pain, sharp pain in the back of user's legs, herniated discs, numbness in legs, shooting hip or buttock pain.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. An aqua-gym device for assisting a user to exercise in water, comprising: a supporting frame suspendedly supported above a water surface; a training connector detachably attached to said user; and an elastic element having a first elastic portion having one end movably connected to said supporting frame, and another end movably connected to said training connector such that said first elastic element is arranged to exert an upward force to said user for substantially assisting said user to float in said water, wherein said elastic element further has a second elastic portion having one end movably connected to said supporting frame, and another end movably connected to said training connector such that said second elastic element is arranged to exert a backward pulling force to said user, so that when said user exercises in said water, said first and said elastic element substantially guide said user by assisting said user to float in said water and providing a guiding force to said user.
 2. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 1, wherein further comprising a water tank having an exercise cavity formed therein for storing a predetermined amount of water, wherein said supporting frame is supported by said water tank for supporting said first and said second elastic portion.
 3. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said water tank further comprises an edge frame defining a peripheral edge thereof, a plurality of leg frames spacedly extended from said edge frame to stand on a ground surface for supporting said edge frame at a predetermined elevation, and a waterproof fabric mounted on said edge frame to define a tank body having said exercise cavity and for storing a predetermined of water therein.
 4. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said edge frame comprises an elongated frame member bent to form a substantially rectangular cross section and to define two opposed longitudinal edges and two opposed transverse edges, wherein each of said leg frames comprises an elongated leg member and is bent to form a U-shaped cross section which defines a base portion resting on said ground surface, and two supporting portions integrally, upwardly and inclinedly extended from said base portion to connect with said edge frame.
 5. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said water tank further comprises a plurality of securing strips having one end portion securely affixed to a bottom portion of said tank body, and another end attached to said base portion of said corresponding leg frame for reinforcing said leg frame by preventing said leg frame from moving pivotally outwardly with respect to said edge frame when said exercise cavity is filled with a predetermined volume of water.
 6. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said supporting frame comprises a first supporting member extending across said edge frame, and a second supporting member extended from said edge frame to connect with said first supporting member, wherein each of said first supporting member and said second supporting member is curved in cross sectional shape and is extended above said exercise cavity.
 7. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said supporting frame comprises a first supporting member extending across said edge frame, and a second supporting member extended from said edge frame to connect with said first supporting member, wherein each of said first supporting member and said second supporting member is curved in cross sectional shape and is extended above said exercise cavity.
 8. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 6, wherein said supporting frame further comprises a plurality of support connectors spacedly provided on said second supporting member for connecting said second supporting member with said first and said second elastic portion respectively, wherein each of said support connectors comprises a tubular connector body, and a plurality of locking sleeves extended from said tubular connector body to detachably connect to a predetermined position on said second supporting member, wherein said corresponding end of said corresponding first or said second elastic portion is securely mounted within said tubular connector boy, while another end of said first and said second elastic portion elastically extends to said training connector.
 9. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 7, wherein said supporting frame further comprises a plurality of support connectors spacedly provided on said second supporting member for connecting said second supporting member with said first and said second elastic portion respectively, wherein each of said support connectors comprises a tubular connector body, and a plurality of locking sleeves extended from said tubular connector body to detachably connect to a predetermined position on said second supporting member, wherein said corresponding end of said corresponding first or said second elastic portion is securely mounted within said tubular connector body, while another end of said first and said second elastic portion elastically extends to said training connector.
 10. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 7, wherein said training connector comprises a main body for wearing on a user's body, and a connecting loop provided at said main body, wherein said elastic element is arranged to pass through said connecting loop to define said first and said second elastic portion as said portions of said elastic element for providing said upward pulling force and said backward pulling force for said user respectively.
 11. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 8, wherein said training connector comprises a main body for wearing on a user's body, and a connecting loop provided at said main body, wherein said elastic element is arranged to pass through said connecting loop to define said first and said second elastic portion as said portions of said elastic element for providing said upward pulling force and said backward pulling force for said user respectively.
 12. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 9, wherein said training connector comprises a main body for wearing on a user's body, and a connecting loop provided at said main body, wherein said elastic element is arranged to pass through said connecting loop to define said first and said second elastic portion as said portions of said elastic element for providing said upward pulling force and said backward pulling force for said user respectively.
 13. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of grip assemblies spacedly provided on said edge frame for allowing a user to grip thereon while exercising a leg portion, wherein each of said grip assemblies comprises a coupling frame mounted on said edge frame and extended toward said exercise cavity, a height adjustment frame upwardly extended from said coupling frame, and a gripping member extended from said height adjustment frame toward said exercise cavity, wherein a user is able to grip on said gripping member as a support for exercising said leg portion.
 14. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of grip assemblies spacedly provided on said edge frame for allowing a user to grip thereon while exercising a leg portion, wherein each of said grip assemblies comprises a coupling frame mounted on said edge frame and extended toward said exercise cavity, a height adjustment frame upwardly extended from said coupling frame, and a gripping member extended from said height adjustment frame toward said exercise cavity, wherein a user is able to grip on said gripping member as a support for exercising said leg portion.
 15. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of grip assemblies spacedly provided on said edge frame for allowing a user to grip thereon while exercising a leg portion, wherein each of said grip assemblies comprises a coupling frame mounted on said edge frame and extended toward said exercise cavity, a height adjustment frame upwardly extended from said coupling frame, and a gripping member extended from said height adjustment frame toward said exercise cavity, wherein a user is able to grip on said gripping member as a support for exercising said leg portion.
 16. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 9, further comprising a training bar extended across said first supporting member for allowing said user grip thereon and to perform a predetermined exercise in said water, wherein said training bar is elongated in shape and has two ends securely mounted to said curved first supporting member at an elevation less than a height of said user.
 17. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a training bar extended across said first supporting member for allowing said user grip thereon and to perform a predetermined exercise in said water, wherein said training bar is elongated in shape and has two ends securely mounted to said curved first supporting member at an elevation less than a height of said user.
 18. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 15, further comprising a training bar extended across said first supporting member for allowing said user grip thereon and to perform a predetermined exercise in said water, wherein said training bar is elongated in shape and has two ends securely mounted to said curved first supporting member at an elevation less than a height of said user.
 19. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 15, wherein said coupling frame comprises a securing coupler securely coupled to the edge frame, an elongated member extended from said securing coupler, and a tubular body provided at an inner end of said elongated member, wherein said height adjustment frame is arranged to slidably penetrate through said tubular body for adjusting a height of said griping member.
 20. The aqua-gym device, as recited in claim 18, wherein said coupling frame comprises a securing coupler securely coupled to the edge frame, an elongated member extended from said securing coupler, and a tubular body provided at an inner end of said elongated member, wherein said height adjustment frame is arranged to slidably penetrate through said tubular body for adjusting a height of said griping member. 